UPDATED JULY 25: At the Kennebunk Democratic Town Committee caucus, 84 members  cast a majority vote to elect Ed Legg as the District 141 State Representative candidate. Legg will replace current District 141 State Representative Christopher Babbidge on the ballot in November.

By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

District 141 Maine State Representative Christopher Babbidge announced July 12 he would not be seeking reelection, leaving the door open for candidates interested in representing Kennebunk in the state legislature for the next two years. 

“This decision is best for my family at this time,” said Babbidge in a July 14 press release. “I want to acknowledge that it has been the support of my hard-working wife back home that has enabled me to experience this life-long dream.  Perhaps, with good fortune, I’ll be able to serve again.  But, at this specific time in my life, I need to change priorities.  Once again, I sincerely thank the voters of Kennebunk for their confidence and their trust.”

The Kennebunk Democratic Committee then scheduled a July 24 caucus to choose a new candidate, giving the community a seven-day notice and allowing enough time to have the results into the state by 5 p.m. July 28. The caucus took place after the Post press deadline. 

Prior to the June 10 primary, no Republican sought that party’s nomination to challenge Babbidge. Calls to York County Republican Committee Chairman David Bowles were not returned by press time.

Kennebunk Democratic Committee member Daniel McGarry said while only members are allowed to participate in voting for a candidate, registered Democrats in District 141 could attend the meeting and become a member in order to cast a vote. 

Since Babbidge’s announcement, three residents of District 141 have expressed interest in running for nomination. Kennebunk residents Ed Legg, John Burrows and Kaitlin Cunningham are all seeking possible nomination to run unopposed in the election for District 141 State Representative.

Legg, 65, said Babbidge called to ask him if he would be interested in running for the seat. Once word got out about Babbidge’s withdrawal, Legg said more phone calls came from residents and party officials encouraging him to run.

“Along with a professional career, which has directly helped bring millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our area and state, I am committed to caring for people, to protecting a quality of life unique to Kennebunk and to our state and to preserving this heritage for the generations to come.  I believe that as Democrats and as good human beings, such work constitutes a vital part of our mission,” said Legg in a formal letter announcing his decision to run for nomination.

Legg cited experience working with the Maine Legislature passing numerous bonds and representing Maine Biomedical Research Coalition and Maine Marine Research Coalition. Except during his time as Vice President for the University of New England, Legg has been an active member of the Democratic Party, serving as a leader and helping raise funds. 

Cunningham, 21, will finish her last semester this fall at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish. She decided to run for nomination based on encouragement from friends, family and political acquaintances in Portland and Augusta. 

“They all told me ‘This is my chance – go for it.’ I am absolutely dedicated to this town. I’ve grown up and gone to school here. We need to work to continue with the great things Kennebunk has to offer,” Cunningham said.

Her experience in politics comes from working with York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence during his failed primary campaign to succeed Tom Allen in Maine’s first district congressional seat, as a member of College Democrats and sitting on the advisory board for Center for American Progress. She said the issues she wants to focus on are education, natural resources and protecting civil liberties. 

Burrows, 33, is currently the program coordinator for Atlantic Salmon Federation, a nonprofit international conservation program. He said public service has always been something he has wanted to do since taking classes taught by Babbidge about State Legislature in high school, and said he thought this was a good opportunity to get involved. 

“I have numerous short term goals, the most important is to do something about the high energy costs as it is really becoming a crisis,” Burrows said.

Some of his long-term goals include identifying Maine’s attributes and marrying those with economic development in the state. He said streamlining programs to maintain the quality of life in Maine is another item on his agenda. 

Burrows’s experience with government comes from his current position, as well as working to create the Riverfront Community Development Program that voters approved in November 2007.